West Ham have pulled off another transfer coup by securing the loan signing of Arsenal full back Carl Jenkinson for the season.

The 22-year-old defender, who has one cap for the full England senior team from back in 2012, opted to join the Hammers despite being linked to a number of other Premier League clubs.

Jenkinson is convinced he has made the right decision to come to Upton Park for the season.

“It’s brilliant how it has turned out and I just want to thank the Gaffer and Mr Sullivan and Mr Gold because they put in a big push to get me here,” said the Gunner. “I’m clearly seen as a big part of things here and hopefully I can prove my worth here because it is an important year for me.

“I was flattered to have a lot of options but, deep down, if I was being honest with myself West Ham was always the place I wanted to go to.

“ It’s one of them where I wanted to do the right professional thing and consider all the options, but in the back of my mind it was always West Ham and I’m just so glad it’s all worked out how I wanted it to in the end.

“It will be brilliant to play here. I’ve got a lot of friends who are West Ham fans and I know how good the supporters are here. I’ve played here a couple of times so I know exactly what it is all about, so it’s going to be fantastic to be a part of that, to be honest.

“You get a great atmosphere here and the fans are great, so I just can’t wait to get a West Ham shirt on and get on the pitch and play. This is an exciting time for me, it really is.”

Jenkinson becomes West Ham’s sixth summer signing, though it does cast a shadow over the future of right back Guy Demel.

The former Ivory Coast international has been linked with a return to old club SV Hamburg in Germany as well as Premier League newboys Leicester City.